open source systems for libraries

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from pybliographer-list: "it should now compile with python 2.0, 1.6, 1.5.x; I fixed a bug when converting some characters (like angstrï¿½m) to bibtex; it is now possible to define custom key generators, so that you can have emacs-like keys for example." for more see the pyblio site.

Wrote up this short perl script which uses Zeta to grab a single ISBN's MARC record from LC. The goal is to make it easier for cuecat hackers and the like to get better data when they scan in their books' UPCs. See also today's NYTimes piece-free reg. req'd-for more on the sudden explosion of barcode mayhem.

Sebastian writes: "After ages and ages of "real-soon-now" comments, we finally have our ZAP! Apache module ready for public release. ZAP! allows you to build WWW-based Z39.50 clients by filling in "templates" for each page in your interface. It is simple to do basic things, and yet it is possible to build quite advanced gateways. In the Apache mode, it can be extremely efficient, but it also runs as a conventional CGI script. It is freeware, but we have certain commercial options available." Nice... tried it on Yale's ORBIS using the demo page and it seems to work pretty clean.

Sebastian writes: "Index Data has just made its first release of a Z39.50 Server module for Perl. It provides a pretty simple API which hides most of the complexities of Z39.50 and network programming in general, so all you have to do is provide a bit of code to interface to your resource. You can draw on all the usual Perl tools to talk to back-end databases, create response records in XML, MARC, etc." Built using YAZ by the people who brought us YAZ to begin with... definitely worth a close look.

from freshmeat: "This is a small example application using the DigitalConvergence Cat: Optical Reader. The application allows you to scan the ISBN barcode of a book and retrieve its information from the Library of Congress. Optionally, this data can be stored in a local database table." Download the perl code here. Hmm, doing z39.50 by hand it seems...

from Derek over perl4lib: "Basically a bugfix and sanity checks after Elizabeth Shaw noticed that pack_008 left the 008 field empty. Also added a ship script to automate the creation of
the .tar.gz version. Please beat on this and let the list know of any problems..." Go get it at marcpm.sourceforge.net. [p.s. hey Liz, that you? how's that reference MOO doin'? ;)]

from the pyblio site: "This version improves some formats (bibtex strict mode now recognizes its own files as correct ;-), and can parse \ss{}. Refer accepts %F fields thanks to Martin Wilck), and the graphical interface (saving of columns widths in the index window, scrollbar in the edition window for people having small screens, better behavior of the selection after editing). ."